New K98k owner- confirm originality and slight mismatch q's

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81turbota

Member
New K98k owner- BYF 43 confirm originality and slight mismatch q's lots of PICS

Hey all,
I've always wanted a K98 for my milsurp collection, to offset the mosins and enfields, finally found a beauty. Just put this K98 on layaway 2 days ago, and if it doesn't check out then I'll let it go. It's being advertised as a real non RC with good original finish. Okay- BYF 43, WaA 135, SN 38386h. Very nice bore with sharp lands and grooves, strong muzzle crown and bright. The bluing is older and shows some wear, but it's very nice overall. I am curious as to either a VERY lucky mixmaster, or a factory stamping error. Everything on the rifle matches the 8386 SN with the exception of the nose cap and barrel band, which are stamped 8586. Seems a little close, seeing the resemblance between 3 and 5. Okay enough jabber


I searched all over for an X stamp or import mark, couldn't find one. Looks like whoever took the rifle apart last installed the barrel band on the wrong side, as the sling hole is on the same side of the bolt it does not have a welded nose cap. No evidence of prior shellac, just a dull oil like finish over a laminated stock with red glue.

Thanks everyone!! Looking not to get burned in the sea of convincing K98's.






Trigger guard and mag floor plate- capture screw in the forward position, trigger guard stamped 38386, mag floor plate stamped 8386. Can't see in the pic but the WaA code is 135 above trigger guard S/N.



Bolt side view



View of bolt handle and body, body is stamped 8386 and handle is stamped 8386 H. You can barely see the bolt release lever, stamped 86. Not pictured, but the back of the firing pin is stamped 8386.



Safety switch, stamped 8386.



Stock marking, WaA 135. No other markings on side of buttstock. Not pictured, but the buttplate has WaA 135 on it.



Nose cap. Stamped 8586. Don't have a good pic of the barrel band, but it shared 8586.





 
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Bump- any pro insight is greatly appreciated

I have researched this rifle greatly, and as far as I can tell it's legit. Just don't want to get a turd :bump2:
 
The lower barrel band is mounted incorrectly, the sling loop is supposed to be on the left side. You should slide the barrel band forward and check for a duffle cut. Even if the two mis-numbered parts were not original, I would still take the rifle if the price is right.
 
Looks ok. The front band is almost certainly a factory error and these mistakes are not uncommon. Wouldn't bother me. What is the asking price?
 
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. I realize the band is installed incorrectly, I have not moved it to check for a duffel cut or serial numbers on the wood.

Asking price is steep- $1100. I am willing to spend a few extra bucks for a real deal hold in my hand and inspect K98, as I am not a fan of buying without physical inspection. The same shop has another all matching k98 with bring back papers, but they are asking $2400 for that one. I'm not willing to pay 1300 for papers.
 
wHILE A BYF 44 IS ABOUT AS COMMON AS THEY COME, IT APPEARS TO BE A NICE, ORIGINAL MATCHING GUN, THAT HASN'T BEEN MESSED WITH MUCH IF AT ALL...

Sorry about the caps, caps lock was on...anyway, assuming everything else is correct, I would say if you want a nice matching 98k, $1100 isn't a terrible price at all, if I wanted one, and had the scratch, I'd buy it...

I agree the two misnumbered parts are factory errors...I wouldn't worry about them...

ETA as far as the other one, unless it is something really special code, year wise, bringback papers certainly do not double the price....they are nuts on that...
 
Thanks guys.

I did buy this one, it's currently in CA 10 day wait jail. The shop I bought it from said (in writing) if I didn't want it during that time, I would suffer a small penalty but I wouldn't have to take delivery and I'd get refunded. Just making sure it isn't a turd. I had a hunch it was a factory mixup, the salesman told me "if this thing was real matching, I would sell it for $1750, but you can have it for $1100"

While not a steal, I really like it and it's got personality.

I don't know the code on their super expensive bringback K98, but they have another for $995 which is an SVW45 kriegsmodell as far as I can tell, with the phosphate finish and a mint bore. They said it needed to go to the gunsmith, as some part needed to be brazed on the barrel? The top hand guard wood is only secured by the barrel band, so it flops around. Sadly, that one is truly non matching.
 
Congrats 81turbota, you did good. That has all the indicia of a factory mismatch/error. When you get it, check the handguard and stock. I have a bnz 43 with the same type of error with the bands.
 
Hey guys,
I brought it home today, and pulled the barrel bands off to check the stock.

Numbers matching! 38386! I'm pretty happy.

Will take more pics as I tear it down for cleaning.

Any tips for cleaning the stock without hurting the original finish? It's got quite a few years worth of sticky finger goo on it.
 
81turbota said:
Hey guys,
I brought it home today, and pulled the barrel bands off to check the stock.

Numbers matching! 38386! I'm pretty happy.

Will take more pics as I tear it down for cleaning.

Any tips for cleaning the stock without hurting the original finish? It's got quite a few years worth of sticky finger goo on it.
Click to expand...

Congrats. I'd do little to nothing to the stock. Going back to look at the stock, I'd leave it alone, it's fine as it is. The MOST I would do is put a dime sized dollop of Howards Feed n Wax on a white towel and wipe the excess built up dust off and out of the grain. Others may differ on that, but I would do nothing else, if that, and probably wouldn't even do that. Well done, nice find. :happy0180:
 
Yeah, that was a good buy...a very nice gun.

Take Hambones advice on that stock, thats really a really, really nice stock, you don't need to do anything to it, except, maybe as Ham suggests...but thats it, they don't come much better as far as unmessed with.

I'd be very happy with it....
 
Thanks guys. I felt like I was performing brain surgery during disassembly, as to not hurt anything and leave no trace. I had to as very light rust was forming under the wood.

Hambone and Pzjgr- I'll take your advice for the stock, just the absolute minimal amount of cleaning to at least get rid of the sticky stuff.
 
Here's some more pics :happy0180: I only had 15 rounds of 1940 Czech 8mm, man was it HOT!!! No paper target, sorry. Will report back during a proper range trip. I just wanted to go blow all the stubborn crap out of the bore.













 
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